We’d now like to take a moment with one of Click Communications’ excellent Partners, Dinah McLean, to learn a little more about where she came from and how she gets by in the world of Click. With the Fall season upon us, we’re reminded that there’s nothing better than the crackle of a roaring fire. Let us begin.
What is your favorite thing about working at Click? I love it when we get thank yous and positive feedback about the Click Team from our clients and press. Mac and I have worked hard to cultivate a specific culture here at Click. While feedback can be a rare thing, I feel like we often hear about how much our team’s passion, expertise, professionalism and speed have contributed to our clients’ and press partners’ success. To me, that means we’re doing something right.
What skill has been most valuable to you while working here? Since 2003, I’ve been a leader of some form of remote team, either managing the “virtual office” of Click or, before that, as the Sales & Marketing Director for Ticketmaster’s Western Region. Managing a team of telecommuters definitely requires a very specific skill set that I’ve honed over the years, and I have learned that there are three key secrets to success: Communication, communication, communication.
What would you consider to be your area of specialty? I’m definitely way more into the musicals than my fellow Clickers, and would also consider myself a go-to person to consult on anything relating to classical music, cooking shows & chefs, dance films and shows, teen comedies and the 90s. I’m also Click’s resident “data geek,” so I specialize in our reporting, analytics and all things Excel. (And I do use Excel for almost all things.)
What is the best part of your workday? Working with my husband. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in work, in life, in crime… The fact is, Mac McLean is an online publicity genius, and in addition to being someone that I respect and learn from every day, he’s also just the best man I know. And hearing his loud laugh in the other room never fails to make me smile.
What websites do you frequent the most that aren’t necessarily work-related? After years of working with parenting sites and blogs for Click’s clients, now that I’m a mom I find myself going online regularly to seek the advice offered up by the mighty Moms of the Internet.
Dinah with her other baby/job/obsession, Duncan.
What is the best advice you have ever received? My dad’s advice on how to write a really kickass cover letter is stellar and timeless. It opened countless doors for me throughout my career, plus I keep it in mind when reviewing applications to Click. (Take note, would-be Clickers.)
Who’s your favorite celebrity you’ve ever met?
This Guy!
What book are you currently reading and what else might I find on your shelves? Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: it’s super geeky 80’s-tastic, and I am enjoying the hell out of it. Mac & I also started up a Comic Book Club with some fellow geeks (it’s just like book club, where you read books & discuss over wine, only with comics, and it’s awesome), and we just finished the gorgeous Daytripper by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon. Our current assignment is Astro City by Kurt Busiek.
If I looked in your DVR/BD player, what would I find? Fall TV! I am very excited to try on some of the new offerings this fall (Terra Nova, Grimm, Once Upon a Time) but am also excited to see my old friends return: Dexter, Castle, Bones, Modern Family, Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, Community… I’m actually not sure when I’m going to watch all of these, now that I think of it.
Dexter
Where in the world is your favorite place to travel or spend a dream vacation? Right now, any vacation would be a dream vacation! There are countless corners of the world that I want to explore, but if I’m being totally honest my favorite places on the planet are the Colorado Rocky Mountains and the Big Island of Hawaii. California’s wine country is pretty sweet, too.
Obligatory super power question: What would it be and why? Oh, how I wish I could teleport. My beloved family and friends live all over the globe, and I miss them like crazy. My dream would be to be able to teleport me, Mac & Duncan to Colorado for Sunday night supper with my parents & brother one weekend, pop by to watch Glee with my nieces in Washington on Tuesday, maybe teleport my friend Mikey out from DC to have some dinner with us on Friday, then spend Saturday at the Toledo Zoo with my sister Matti & her family, then Sunday football in Minnesota with my sister Amy & her family. Actually, that’s a lot of family time; I might have to spread that out a little. But you know what I mean.
